Qiong Sha, Martha L Escobar Galvis, Zachary B Madaj, Sarah A Keaton, LeAnn Smart, Yvonne M Edgerly, Ehraz Anis, Richard Leach, Lauren M Osborne, Eric Achtyes, Lena Brundin
BACKGROUND: Perinatal depression (including antenatal-, postnatal-, and depression that spans both timepoints) is a prevalent disorder with high morbidity that affects both mother and child. Even though the full biological blueprints of perinatal depression remain incomplete, multiple studies indicate that, at least for antenatal depression, the disorder has an inflammatory component likely linked to a dysregulation of the enzymatic kynurenine pathway. The production of neuroactive metabolites in this pathway, including quinolinic acid (QUIN), is upregulated in the placenta due to the multiple immunological roles of the metabolites during pregnancy...
March 29, 2024: Brain, Behavior, and Immunity